Double gate transistor device and method of operating

ABSTRACT

In accordance with an embodiment, a method include switching on a transistor device by generating a first conducting channel in a body region by driving a first gate electrode and, before generating the first conducting channel, generating a second conducting channel in the body region by driving a second gate electrode. The first gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from a body region by a first gate dielectric, and the second gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a second gate dielectric, arranged adjacent the first gate electrode, and separated from the first gate electrode by a separation layer. The body region is arranged between a source region and a drift region, and wherein the drift region is arranged between body region and a drain region.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure in general relates to a transistor device, in particular a field-effect controlled power transistor device.

BACKGROUND

Field-effect controlled power transistor devices, such as power MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Field-Effect Transistors) or power IGBT's (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) are widely used in automotive, industrial, or consumer electronic applications for driving loads, converting power, or the like. Such power transistors are available with voltage blocking capabilities of between several 10 volts (V) and several kilovolts (kV) and current ratings of between several amperes (A) and several kiloamperes (kA). The “voltage blocking capability” defines the maximum voltage the transistor device can withstand in an off-state (when switched off), and the “current rating” defines a maximum current the transistor device can conduct in the on-state (when switched on).

A field-effect controlled power transistor device switches on and off dependent on a voltage level of a drive voltage applied between a drive node (often referred to as gate node) and a load node (often referred to as source node or emitter node). A normally-off device (enhancement device) is in the off state when the drive voltage is zero so that a device of this type can be switched off by setting the drive voltage to zero. In operation of a power transistor device parasitic voltage spikes may occur at the gate node when the transistor device is in the off-state. Those voltage spikes may result from rapid changes of currents through parasitic inductances, such as line inductances; rapid current changes may result from switching operations of other power transistors in a circuit where the power transistor is employed.

There is a need to provide a transistor device that is robust against parasitic voltage spikes and can be controlled (switched on and off) in an efficient way, and a method for operating such transistor device in an efficient way.

SUMMARY

One example relates to a method. The method includes switching on a transistor device by generating a first conducting channel in a body region by driving a first gate electrode and, before generating the first conducting channel, generating a second conducting channel in the body region by driving a second gate electrode. The first gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from a body region by a first gate dielectric. The second gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a second gate dielectric, arranged adjacent to the first gate electrode, and separated from the first gate electrode by a separation layer, and the body region is arranged between a source region and a drift region, and wherein the drift region is arranged between body region and a drain region.

One example relates to a method. The method includes switching off a transistor device by interrupting a first conducting channel in a body region by driving a first gate electrode and, after interrupting the first conducting channel, interrupting a second conducting channel in the body region by driving a second gate electrode. The first gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from a body region by a first gate dielectric. The second gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a second gate dielectric, arranged adjacent the first gate electrode, and separated from the first gate electrode by a separation layer. The body region is arranged between a source region and a drift region, and wherein the drift region is arranged between body region and a drain region.

One example relates to a method. The method includes driving a first gate electrode of a transistor device and monitoring at least one electrical parameter of a second gate electrode of the transistor device. The first gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from a body region by a first gate dielectric. The second gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a second gate dielectric, arranged adjacent the first gate electrode, and separated from the first gate electrode by a separation layer. The body region is arranged between a source region and a drift region, and wherein the drift region is arranged between body region and a drain region.

Another example relates to a transistor device. The transistor device includes at least one transistor cell. The at least one transistor cell includes a drift region, a body region, a source region and a drain region. The body region is arranged between the source region and the drift region, and the drift region is arranged between body region and the drain region. The transistor device further includes a first gate electrode dielectrically insulated from the body region by a first gate dielectric, and a second gate electrode. The second gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a second gate dielectric, is arranged adjacent the first gate electrode, and is separated from the first gate electrode by a separation layer.

Another example relates to a drive circuit. The drive circuit includes an input configured to receive an input signal a first output configured to be coupled to a first gate node of a transistor device, and a second output configured to be coupled to a second gate node of a transistor device configured to. The drive circuit is configured to drive the first gate node and the second gate node based on the input signal, and to detect an operation state of the transistor device based on monitoring at least one electrical parameter at the second output.

Yet another example relates to a drive circuit. The drive circuit includes an input configured to receive an input signal, a first output configured to be coupled to a first gate node of a transistor device, and a second output configured to be coupled to a second gate node of a transistor device. The drive circuit is configured to operate in a diagnostic mode, wherein in the diagnostic mode, the transistor device is configured to diagnose the transistor device based on driving the first gate node via the first output and monitoring at least one electrical parameter at the second output.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples are explained below with reference to the drawings. The drawings serve to illustrate certain principles, so that only aspects necessary for understanding these principles are illustrated. The drawings are not to scale. In the drawings the same reference characters denote like features.

FIG. 1 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of one transistor cell of a double gate transistor device according to one example;

FIG. 2A shows the circuit symbol of a double gate transistor device implemented as an IGBT;

FIG. 2B shows the circuit symbol of a double gate transistor device implemented as a MOSFET;

FIG. 3 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of one section of a double gate transistor device including a plurality of parallel connected transistor cells;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective sectional view of one transistor cell of a double gate transistor device according to one example;

FIG. 5 shows an electronic circuit that illustrates the use of a double gate transistor device as an electronic switch;

FIG. 6 shows timing diagrams that illustrate one example of how a double gate transistor device can be switched on;

FIG. 7 shows timing diagrams that illustrate another example of how a double gate transistor device can be switched on;

FIG. 8 shows a modification of one of the timing diagrams shown in FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 shows another modification of one of the timing diagrams shown in FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 10 shows one example of a driver stage configured to switch on a double gate transistor device;

FIG. 11 shows another example of a driver stage configured to switch on a double gate transistor device;

FIG. 12 shows yet another example of a driver stage configured to switch on a double gate transistor device;

FIG. 13 shows timing diagrams that illustrate one example of how a double gate transistor device can be switched off;

FIG. 14 shows timing diagrams that illustrate another example of how a double gate transistor device can be switched off;

FIG. 15 shows a modification of one of the timing diagrams shown in FIGS. 13 and 14;

FIG. 16 shows another modification of one of the timing diagrams shown in FIGS. 13 and 14;

FIG. 17 shows one example of a driver stage configured to switch off a double gate transistor device;

FIG. 18 shows another example of a driver stage configured to switch off a double gate transistor device;

FIG. 19 shows yet another example of a driver stage configured to switch off a double gate transistor device;

FIG. 20 shows one example of a driver that includes a first driver stage, a second driver stage and a detection circuit;

FIG. 21 shows one example of the detection circuit in greater detail;

FIG. 22 shows timing diagrams that illustrate operation of the detection circuit shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of a double gate transistor device; and

FIGS. 24 and 25 show signal diagrams illustrating one way of operation of the detection circuit shown in FIG. 22.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. The drawings form a part of the description and by way of illustration show specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein may be combined with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise.

FIG. 1 shows a vertical cross sectional view of one transistor cell of a double gate transistor device according to one example. The transistor cell includes a drift region 11, a body region 12, a source region 13 and a drain region 14. The body region 12 is arranged between the drift region 11 and the source region 13, and the drift region 11 is arranged between the body region 12 and the drain region 14. These regions, which may briefly be referred to as active device regions, are doped semiconductor regions arranged in a semiconductor body 100. The semiconductor body 100 may include a conventional semiconductor material such as, for example, silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC), gallium arsenide (GaAs), gallium nitride (GaN), or the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, the transistor cell further includes a first gate electrode 21 dielectrically insulated from the body region 12 by a first gate dielectric 22, and a second gate electrode 31 dielectrically insulated from the body region 12 by a second gate dielectric 32. The second gate electrode 31 is arranged adjacent the first gate electrode 21 and is separated from the first gate electrode 21 by a separation layer 23. The first gate electrode 21 is electrically connected to a gate node G1, and the second gate electrode 31 is electrically connected to a second gate node G2 different from the first gate node G1. These gate nodes G1, G2 are only schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. According to one example, the separation layer 23 includes a dielectric layer. According to one example, the first gate dielectric 22, the second gate dielectric 32 and the separation layer 23 include the same type of material such as, for example, an oxide, a nitride, an oxy-nitride, or the like.

The first gate dielectric 22 has a first thickness d₂₂, which defines a shortest distance between the first gate electrode 21 and the body region 12, and the second gate dielectric 32 has a second thickness d₃₂, which defines the shortest distance between the second gate electrode 31 and the body region 12. According to one example, these thicknesses d₂₂, d₃₂ are substantially equal, so that d₂₂=d₃₂. According to another example, one of is less than twice of the other one of the first thickness d₂₂ and the second thickness d₃₂, that is, 0.5≤d₂₂/d₃₂≤2.

Each of the first gate dielectric 22 and the second gate dielectric 32 adjoins the body region 12. Furthermore, the first gate dielectric 22 adjoins the source region 13 and the second gate dielectric 32 adjoins the drift region 11. Thus, the first gate electrode 21 is adjacent the source region 13 additionally to being adjacent to the body region 12, and the second gate electrode 31 is adjacent the drift region 11 additionally to being adjacent to the body region 12.

The transistor device can be implemented as an n-type transistor device or a p-type transistor device. The type of the transistor device is defined by a doping type of the source region 13. The source region 13 is n-doped in an n-type transistor device and p-doped in a p-type transistor device. A doping type of the body region 12 is complementary to the doping type of the source region 13, so that the body region 12 is p-doped in an n-type transistor device and n-doped in a p-type transistor device. A doping type of the drift region 11 equals the doping type of the source region 13 and is complementary to the doping type of the body region 12, so that a pn-junction is formed between the body region 12 and the drift region 11.

The transistor device can be implemented as an IGBT or as a MOSFET. In an IGBT a doping type of the drain region 14 is complementary to the doping type of the drift region 11 and the source region, respectively, and in a MOSFET the doping type of the drain region 14 equals the doping type of the drift region 11 and the source region 13, respectively. Optionally, the transistor device includes a field-stop region 15 of the same doping type as the drift region 11 between the drift region 11 and the drain region 14. A doping concentration of the field-stop region 15 is higher than the doping concentration of the drift region 11 and lower than the doping concentration of the drain region 14.

For example, a doping concentration of the drift region 11 is selected from a range of between 1E12 cm⁻³ and 1E15 cm⁻³, between 5E12 cm⁻³ and 1E14 cm⁻³, or 7E12 cm⁻³ and 1E13 cm⁻³, a doping concentration of the optional field-stop region 15 is selected from a range of between 1E15 cm⁻³ and 1E16 cm⁻³, a doping concentration of the body region 12 is selected from a range of between 1E16 cm⁻³ and 5E18 cm⁻³, and a doping concentration of the source region 13 is higher than 1E19 cm⁻³. In a MOSFET, a doping concentration of the drain region 13 is higher than 1E18 cm⁻³ or higher than 1E19 cm⁻³, for example. In an IGBT (where the drain region 14 can also be referred to as collector region), a doping concentration of the drain region 13 is higher than 1E17 cm⁻³ or higher than 1E18 cm⁻³, for example. According to one example, the doping concentration of the drain region 14 is at least 1E3 times, 1E4 times, or at least 1E5 times the doping concentration of the drift region 11.

The transistor cell shown in FIG. 1 is a vertical transistor cell. That is, the source region 13 and the drain region 14 are spaced apart in a vertical direction of the semiconductor body 100. The “vertical direction” of the semiconductor body 100 is a direction perpendicular to a first surface 101 of the semiconductor body 100. The first gate electrode 21 and the second gate electrode 22 are located in one trench that extends from the first surface 101 into the semiconductor body 100. By this, the first gate electrode 21 and the second gate electrode 22 are adjacent in the vertical direction of the semiconductor body 100, whereas the first gate electrode 21 is closer to the first surface 101 than the second gate electrode 31.

FIG. 2A shows a circuit symbol of a double gate transistor device implemented as an IGBT. This circuit symbol is based on the circuit symbol of a conventional IGBT and is different from the circuit symbol of a conventional IGBT in that it includes two gate nodes, namely the first gate node G1 and a the gate node G2. FIG. 2B shows the circuit symbol of a double gate transistor device implemented as a MOSFET. The circuit symbol shown in FIG. 2B is based on the circuit symbol of a conventional MOSFET and is different from the circuit symbol of a conventional MOSFET in that it includes two gate nodes, namely the first gate node G1 and the second gate node G2. Just for the purpose of illustration, the circuit symbols shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B are drawn to represent n-type transistor devices.

According to one example, the transistor device includes a plurality of transistor cells of the type shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a vertical cross sectional view of one section of a transistor device that includes a plurality of such transistor cells. These transistor cells are connected in parallel by having their first gate electrodes 21 connected to one common first gate node G1, by having their second gate electrodes 22 connected to a common second gate node G2, by having their source regions 13 electrically connected to a common source node S, and by having their drain regions 14 connected to a common drain node D. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the drain regions of the individual transistor cells are formed by one common drain region 14 connected to the drain node D. Furthermore, the drift regions of the individual transistor cells are formed by one common drift region 11.

According to one example, the source regions 13 and the body regions 12 of the individual transistor cells are connected to the source node S. Referring to FIG. 3, the body regions 12 may include contact regions 16 connected to the source node S. These contact regions 16 have the same doping type as the body regions 12, are more highly doped than the body regions 12, and may provide an ohmic connection between the source node S and the body region 12.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, connections between the second gate electrode 31 and the second gate node G2 are only schematically illustrated. FIG. 4 shows a perspective sectional view of one transistor cell to illustrate how the second gate electrode 31 may be connected to the second gate node G2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a section of the second gate electrode 31 extends to the first surface 101 of the semiconductor body 100. By this, the second gate electrode 31, like the first gate electrode 21, can be contacted at the first surface 101 of the semiconductor body 100. In a region where the second gate electrodes 31 extend to the surface 101, the second gate electrode 31 is insulated from the first gate electrode 21 by a further separation layer 24. This further separation layer 24 may include the same type of material as the first gate dielectric 22, the second gate dielectric 32 and the separation layer 23. A thickness, which defines the shortest distance between the first gate electrode 21 and the second gate electrode 31, is greater than the first thickness d₂₂ of the first gate dielectric 22 and the second thickness d₃₂ of the second gate dielectric 32, for example.

The double gate transistor device explained above can be used as an electronic switch. FIG. 5 shows a circuit diagram that illustrates one example of how the double gate transistor device can be used as an electronic switch. Just for the purpose of illustration the double gate transistor device is drawn as an IGBT (as shown in FIG. 2A) in the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 5. In the circuit shown in FIG. 5, the transistor device is connected in series with a load Z (illustrated in dashed lines). In particular, the drain-source path D-S, which is an internal path of the transistor device between the drain node D and the source node S, is connected in series with the load Z. This series circuit with the transistor device and the load Z receives a supply voltage V+ which is available between a first supply node and a second supply node (ground node, GND), for example. The transistor device can be switched on and switched off. When the transistor device is switched on (is in the on-state) a current can flow via the drain-source path D-S and, therefore, through the load Z. When the transistor device is switched off (is in the off-state) it prevents a current to flow via the drain-source path D-S and, therefore, through the load Z. Examples of how the transistor device can be switched on and switched off are explained below.

Referring to FIG. 5, the double gate transistor device can be controlled (driven) by a drive circuit 5. This drive circuit 5 receives an input signal S_(IN) and is connected to the first gate node G1 and the second gate node G2. According to one example, the drive signal S_(IN) can have two different signal levels, an on-level indicating that the transistor device is to be switched on, and an off-level indicating that the transistor device is to be switched off. The drive circuit 5 is configured to drive the transistor device in accordance with the input signal S_(IN). According to one example, the drive circuit 5 includes a first driver stage 5 ₁ (illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 5) configured to switch on the transistor device, and a second driver stage 5 ₂ (illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 5) configured to switch off the transistor device. Examples of these driver stages 5 ₁, 5 ₂ are explained with reference to drawings herein further below.

The double gate transistor device explained above is a voltage-controlled transistor device that switches on and off dependent on two drive voltages, namely a first drive voltage V_(G1S) and a second drive voltage V_(G2S). Referring to FIG. 5, the first drive voltage V_(G1S) is a voltage between the first gate node G1 and the source node S, and the second drive voltage V_(G2S) is a voltage between the second gate node G2 and the source node S. Each of these voltages controls a conducting channel in the body region 12. The first drive voltage V_(G1S) controls a first conducting channel in the body region 12 along the first gate dielectric 22 and the second drive voltage V_(G2S) controls a second conducting channel in the body region 12 along the second gate dielectric 32. These conducting channels are field-effect controlled channels. According to one example, these conducting channels are inversion channels. The transistor device is in the on-state when there is a continuous conducting channel in the body region 12 along the first gate dielectric 21 and the second gate dielectric 22 between the source region 13 and the drift region 11. According to one example, the separation layer 23 is thin enough for the first conducting channel and the second conducting channel to overlap in the region of the separation layer 23 so that there can be continuous conducting channel in the body region 12 between the source region 13 and the drift region 11.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, none of the first gate electrode 21 and the second gate electrode 31 completely extends in a current flow direction of the transistor device from the source region 13 to the drift region 11 adjacent the body region 12. The “current flow direction” is a direction in which a current can flow through the transistor device between the source region 13 and the drain region 14 when the transistor device is in the on-state. In the examples shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the current flow direction of the transistor device is the vertical direction of the semiconductor body 100 (the vertical direction is the direction perpendicular to the first surface 101). In the current flow direction, the first gate electrode 21 is spaced apart from the drift region 11, and the second gate electrode 31 is spaced apart from the source region 13. Thus, the transistor device is only in the on-state when first drive voltage V_(G1S) generates the first conducting channel along the first gate dielectric 22 and the second drive voltage V_(G2S) generates the second conducting channel along the second gate dielectric 32. Consequently, the transistor device is in the off-state when at least one of these first and second conducting channels is interrupted.

FIG. 6 shows timing diagrams that illustrate one example of how the double gate transistor device can be driven from the off-state to the on-state. FIG. 6 shows timing diagrams of the input signal S_(IN), the second drive voltage V_(G2S), the first drive voltage V_(G1S), and the drain-source voltage V_(DS) of the double gate transistor device. Referring to the above, switching on the transistor device includes generating the first conducting channel in the body region 12 along the first gate dielectric 22 and generating the second conducting channel in the body region 12 along the second gate dielectric 32. In the method illustrated in FIG. 6, the second conducting channel is generated before the first conducting channel is generated. Generating the second conducting channel includes changing the second drive voltage V_(G2S) from an off-level V_(OFF2) to an on-level V_(ON2). Just for the purpose of illustration, the off-level V_(OFF2) is a negative level in the example shown in FIG. 6 and the on-level V_(ON2) is a positive voltage level. This is applicable to an n-type double gate transistor device. The off-level V_(OFF2) is such that the second conducting channel in the body region 12 is safely prevented when the second drive voltage V_(G2S) has the off-level V_(OFF2), and the on-level V_(ON2) is such that there is the second conducting channel in the body region 12 when the second drive voltage V_(G2S) has the on-level V_(ON2).

In FIG. 6, V_(TH2) denotes a threshold voltage associated with the second drive voltage V_(GS2). When the second drive voltage V_(G2S) reaches the threshold V_(TH2), which is between the off-level V_(OFF2) and the on-level V_(ON2), the second conducting channel starts to conduct. Increasing the second drive voltage V_(G2S) to above the threshold V_(TH2), as shown in FIG. 6, may help to increase a conductivity of the second conducting channel and, therefore, decrease the on-resistance of the transistor device in the on-state. The “on-resistance” of the transistor device is the electrical resistance of the transistor device between the drain node D and the source node S in the on-state.

Referring to FIG. 6, generating the second conducting channel may include rapidly increasing the voltage level of the second drive voltage V_(G2S) from the off-level V_(OFF2) to the on-level V_(ON2). This is schematically illustrated by the second drive voltage V_(G2S) jumping from the off-level V_(OFF2) to the on-level V_(ON2) at a first time t1. For example, t1 is the time when a signal level of the input signal S_(IN) changes from the off-level to the on-level. Just for the purpose of illustration, in FIG. 6, the off-level of the input signal S_(IN) is drawn as a low level and the on-level is drawn as high level. The curve of the second drive voltage V_(GS2) shown in FIG. 6 is an idealistic curve, which is for illustration purposes. In a real circuit there may be delays and a less rapid increase of the second drive voltage V_(G2S). Nevertheless, the second drive voltage V_(G2S) can be increased as fast as possible and with no need to control such increase. The reason for this is as follows: In a conventional transistor device a rapid increase of the gate-source voltage may be critical as such rapid increase may cause rapid changes of the drain-source voltage and a current through the transistor device, respectively. Such rapid changes may cause undesirable electromagnetic interferences (EMI). The transistor device shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 is still in the off-state after the second conducting channel has been generated. Thus generating the second conducting channel does not affect the drain-source voltage or the current through the transistor device. Thus a rapid increase of the second drive voltage V_(G2S) to generate the second conducting channel is not critical in view of EMI.

In a circuit of the type shown in FIG. 5, the drain-source voltage V_(DS) substantially equals the supply voltage V+ when the transistor device is in the off-state. Referring to FIG. 6, the drain-source voltage V_(DS) remains at the level of the supply voltage V+ after the second drive voltage V_(G2S) has reached the on-level V_(ON2). This indicates that the transistor device is still in the off-state after the second conducting channel has been generated.

Generating the first conducting channel in the body region 12 includes changing a voltage level of the first drive voltage V_(G1S) from an off-level V_(OFF1) to an on-level V_(ON1). The off-level V_(OFF1) is such that it prevents the first conducting channel from being generated in the body region 12, and the on-level V_(ON1) is such that it generates the first conducting channel in the body region 12. According to one example, the on-level V_(ON1) of the first drive voltage V_(G1S) equals the on-level V_(ON2) of the second drive voltage V_(G2S), so that V_(ON1)=V_(ON2). According to one example, these voltage levels are selected from a range of between 5 V and 15 V. According to one example, the off-level V_(OFF1) of the first drive voltage V_(G1S), which is referred to as first off-level in the following, is different from the off-level V_(OFF2) of the second drive voltage, is referred to as second off-level in the following. According to one example, the first off-level V_(OFF1) is substantially zero, and the second off-level V_(OFF2) is negative. According to one example, the second off-level V_(OFF2) is selected from a range of between 0 V and −15 V, in particular between −1V and −10V.

In FIG. 6, V_(TH1) denotes a threshold voltage associated with the first drive voltage V_(GS1). When the first drive voltage V_(G1S) reaches the level of the threshold V_(TH1), which will be referred to as first threshold V_(TH1) in the following, the first conducting channel is generated in the body region 12. In FIG. 6, t2 denotes a time when the first drive voltage V_(G1S) reaches the first threshold V_(TH1). As the second conducting channel has been generated before the first drive voltage V_(G1S) reaches the first threshold _(TH1), t2 is the time when the double gate transistor device starts to conduct (switch on). Thus, beginning at the time t2, the drain-source voltage V_(GS) begins to decrease and the load-path voltage V_(Z) (which is given by the supply voltage V+ minus the drain-source voltage V_(DS)) starts to increase. The latter, however, is not shown in FIG. 6.

In the double gate transistor device, the rate at which the drain-source voltage V_(DS) decreases and a current I_(DS) (see FIG. 5) through the transistor device increases is substantially governed by the increase of the first drive voltage V_(G1S) after the first drive voltage V_(G1S) has reached the first threshold V_(TH1). The faster the first drive voltage V_(G1S) increases, the faster the drain-source voltage V_(DS) decreases and the drain-source current I_(DS) increases, respectively. Thus, slopes of transients of the drain-voltage V_(DS) and the drain-source current I_(DS) can be controlled by controlling the increase of the first gate-source voltage V_(G1S).

Unlike a conventional field-effect controlled transistor device the double gate transistor device, when driven in accordance with the drive scheme explained above, exhibits substantially no Miller effect. According to the Miller effect, an increase of the gate-source voltage of a conventional transistor device is delayed after the gate-source voltage reaches the threshold voltage. The reason for this is that there is a parasitic gate-drain capacitance between the gate electrode and the drain node of a conventional field-effect controlled transistor device. In the double-gate transistor device there is corresponding parasitic capacitance between the second gate electrode 31 and the drain node D. This parasitic capacitance can be rapidly charged/discharged via the second gate node G2, as will be explained in further detail herein below. The second gate electrode 31 shields the first gate electrode 21 towards the drain region so that there is only a very small, if any, parasitic capacitance between the first gate electrode 21 and the drain region 14. Thus, there is substantially no Miller effect involved in generating (controlling) the first conducting channel along the first gate dielectric 22. Thus, electrical charge provided to the first gate electrode 21 via the first gate node G1 only serves to generate the first conducting channel in the body region 12 but is not used to charge/discharge parasitic capacitances such as the gate-drain capacitance. By virtue of this, charging/discharging the first gate electrode can be precisely controlled, so that a switching on/switching off behavior of the double gate transistor can be precisely controlled.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the first drive voltage V_(G1S) and the second drive voltage V_(G2S) start substantially at the time t1. According to another example, shown in FIG. 7, there is a delay time Δt1 between the time when the second drive voltage V_(G2S) starts to increase and the time when the first drive voltage V_(G1S) starts to increase. For example, a time t1-Δt1 when the second drive voltage V_(G2S) starts to increase is the time when the input signal changes from the off-level to the on-level. The other explanations provided with regard to FIG. 6 apply to the example shown in FIG. 7 equivalently.

Referring to the explanation above, the second gate electrode 31 is adjacent the body region 12, separated from the body region 12 by the second gate dielectric 32, and configured to control the second conducting channel in the body region 12. The second gate electrode 31 may extend into the drift region 11. In this case, the second gate electrode 31 is dielectrically insulated from the drift region 11 by a dielectric layer 33. A thickness of this dielectric layer 33, which defines a shortest distance between the second gate electrode 31 and the drift region 11, may correspond to the second thickness d₃₂ of the second gate dielectric or be greater than the second thickness d₃₂. That is, d₃₃≥d₃₂, wherein d₃₃ denotes the thickness of the further dielectric layer 33. In FIG. 1, o₃₁ denotes an overlap between the second gate electrode 31 and the body region 12. This overlap o₃₁ defines a length, in the current flow direction, of a section of the second gate electrode 31 that is adjacent the body region 12. When the transistor device is in the off-state and a voltage is applied between the drain node D and the source node S, a space charge region (depletion region) expands in the drift region 11 and the body region 12 beginning at the pn-junction between the drift region 11 and the body region 12. According to one example, a doping concentration of the body region 12 and the overlap o₃₁ are designed such that the space charge region in the body region 12 does not extend beyond the second gate electrode 31. That is, the space charge region does not extend farther in the direction of the first surface 101 than the second gate electrode 31. In this case, the transistor device can be switched off by suitably driving the second gate electrode 31, independent of the first drive voltage V_(G1S). For example, the overlap o₃₁ is selected from a range of between 0.5 μm and 5 μm, in particular between 1 μm and 3 μm.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 the first drive voltage V_(G1S) is generated to increases substantially linearly beginning at the time t1. This, however, is only an example. According to another example shown in FIG. 8, the first drive voltage V_(G1S) is generated such that it increases non-linearly. For example, the increase is such that it slows down as the level of the first drive voltage V_(G1S) approaches the on-level V_(ON1).

According to yet another example, shown in FIG. 9, the increase of the first drive voltage V_(G1S) has two substantially linear sections, a first section beginning at t1, and a second section following the first section. According to one example, the increase in the first section is slower than the second section.

FIG. 10 shows one example of the first driver stage 5 ₁ configured to switch on the double gate transistor device. This first driver stage 5 ₁ includes a first driver 51 ₁ configured to drive the first gate node G1 (generate the first drive voltage V_(G1S) at the first gate node G1) and a second driver 52 ₁ configured to drive the second gate node G2 (generate the second drive voltage V_(G2S) at the second gate node G2). A control circuit 53 ₁ receives the input signal S_(IN) and controls operation of the first driver 51 ₁ and the second driver 52 ₁ based on the input signal S_(IN). In the example shown in FIG. 10, the second driver 52 ₁ includes a switch 521 ₁ coupled between the second gate node G2 and a supply node where a voltage having the second on-level V_(ON2) is available. This voltage is referenced to the source node S. The first driver 51 ₁ includes a switch 511 ₁ and a current source 512 ₁ connected in series with the switch 511 ₁. The series circuit with the switch 511 ₁ and the current source 512 ₁ is connected between the first gate node G1 and a supply node where a voltage having the first on-level V_(ON1) is available. This voltage is also referenced to the source node S.

The first driver stage 5 ₁ shown in FIG. 10 is configured to drive the double gate transistor device in accordance with the timing diagrams shown in FIG. 6 or 7. In order to switch on the transistor device, the control circuit 53 ₁ based on the input signal S_(IN) closes the switch 521 ₁ in the second driver 52 ₁ and the switch 511 ₁ in the first driver 51 ₁. When the switch 521 ₁ in the second driver 52 ₁ closes, the second drive voltage V_(G2S) rapidly increases to the second on-level V_(ON2) (as shown at times t1 and t1-Δt1 in FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively). When the switch 511 ₁ of the first driver 51 ₁ closes, the first drive voltage V_(G1S) increases substantially linearly (as shown at times t1 in FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively), wherein a rate of the increase is defined by a current level of a current I512 ₁ provided by the current source 512 ₁.

According to one example, the control circuit 53 ₁ is configured to close the switches 511 ₁, 521 ₁ at the same time when the input signal S_(IN) indicates that it is desired to switch on the transistor device. In this case, the transistor device switches on in accordance with the timing diagrams shown in FIG. 6. According to another example, the control circuit 53 ₁ is configured to first switch on the switch 521 ₁ in the second driver 52 ₁ and then switch on the switch 511 ₁ in the first driver 51 ₁. In this case, the transistor device switches on in accordance with the timing diagrams shown in FIG. 7.

The first driver 51 ₁ and the second driver 52 ₁ can be optimized for different purposes. According to one example, the second driver 52 ₁ is optimized to rapidly charge the second gate electrode 31 via the second gate node G2. For this, the second driver 52 ₁ may be configured to drive a high current into the second gate node G2. The first driver 51 ₁ may be configured to charge the first gate electrode 21 via the first gate node G1 in a predefined fashion. For this, as shown in FIG. 10, the first driver 51 ₁ may provide a drive current with a predefined current level. According to one example, this current level is lower than a current level of a maximum drive current provided by the second driver 52 ₁. According to one example the currents provided by the first and second drivers 51 ₁, 52 ₁ become zero when the respective drive voltage V_(G1S), V_(G2S) reaches a predefined voltage level. This is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 in that the drive voltages V_(G1S), V_(G2S) do not further increase when they reach the first on-level V_(ON1) and the second on-level V_(ON2), respectively.

FIG. 11 shows another example of the first driver stage 5 ₁. This first driver stage 5 ₁ is based on the first driver stage 5 ₁ shown in FIG. 10 and is different from the driver stage 5 ₁ shown in FIG. 10 in that the first driver 51 ₁ includes a resistor 513 ₁ instead of the current source 512 ₁. Using this first driver stage 5 ₁ a behavior of the first drive voltage V_(G1S) as shown in FIG. 8 can be obtained. The control circuit 53 ₁, like the control circuit 53 ₁ explained with reference to FIG. 10, may switch on the switches 521 ₁, 511 ₁ in the second driver 52 ₁ and the first driver 51 ₁, respectively, at the same time or with a time delay Δt1.

FIG. 12 shows another example of the first driver stage 5 ₁. This driver stage 5 ₁ is based on the driver stage 5 ₁ shown in FIG. 10 and is different from the first driver stage 5 ₁ shown in FIG. 10 in that the first driver 51 ₁ includes a crossover switch 514 ₁ instead of an on/off-switch and two current sources 515 ₁, 516 ₁ instead of only one current source 512 ₁. The crossover switch 514 ₁ is controlled by the control circuit 53 ₁ and can have three different switching positions, a first position, in which the crossover switch 514 ₁ connects the first current source 515 ₁ between the supply node and the first gate node G1; a second position, in which the crossover switch 514 ₁ connects the second current source 516 ₁ between the supply node and the first gate node G1; and a third position, in which none of the current sources 515 ₁, 516 ₁ is connected between the supply node and the first gate node G1.

Using the first driver stage 5 ₁ shown in FIG. 12 a behavior of the first drive voltage V_(G1S) as shown in FIG. 9 can be obtained. When the transistor device is in the off-state, the crossover switch 514 ₁ couples none of the current source 515 ₁, 516 ₁ to the first gate node G1. When the transistor device is to be switched on, the crossover switch 514 ₁, controlled by the control circuit 53 ₁, connects the first current source 515 ₁ to the first gate node G1 at time t1, in order to obtain a first increase of the first drive voltage V_(G1S). After a delay time, the crossover switch 514 ₁ switches over to connect the current source 516 ₁ to the first gate node G1, in order to obtain the second increase of the first drive voltage V_(G1S). A current provided by the second current source 516 ₁ can be higher than a current provided by the first current source 515 ₁ in order to obtain a timing diagram as shown in FIG. 9.

As an alternative to providing a crossover switch 514 ₁ a respective switch (not shown) can be connected in series with each of the current sources 515 ₁, 516 ₁. These switches can be controlled by the control circuit 53 ₁. In this example, the slower increase of the first drive voltage V_(G1S) can be obtained by switching on only one of the switches, and the faster increase can be obtained by switching on both of the switches.

FIG. 13 shows timing diagrams of an example of how the double gate transistor device can be switched from the on-state to the off-state. In particular, FIG. 13 shows timing diagrams of the input signal S_(IN), the first drive voltage V_(G1S), the second drive voltage V_(G2S), and the drain-source voltage V_(DS).

Referring to the explanation above, the transistor device is in the on-state when there is the first conducting channel along the first gate dielectric 22 and the second conducting channel along the second gate dielectric 32. Switching off the transistor device includes interrupting the first conducting channel before interrupting the second conducting channel. Interrupting the first conducting channel includes decreasing the first drive voltage V_(G1S) from the first on-level V_(ON1) to the first off-level V_(OFF1). In the example shown in FIG. 13, a switching-off procedure of the transistor device starts at time t3 when the first drive voltage V_(G1S) starts to decrease. According to one example, this time t3 is defined by the input signal S_(IN) and may be the time when the signal level of the input signal S_(IN) changes from the on-level to the off-level (whereas, for the purpose of illustration, propagation delays in the control circuit 5 are neglected in the signal diagrams shown in FIG. 13).

As the first drive voltage V_(G1S) decreases, the drain-source voltage V_(DS) increases. There may be a time delay between the time t3 when the first drive voltage V_(G1S) starts to decrease and the time when the drain-source voltage V_(DS) starts to increase. However, such delay, which may result from discharging excessive charge from the first gate electrode 21, is not shown in FIG. 13. The first conducting channel is interrupted, and the drain-source voltage V_(DS) reaches its maximum not before the first drive voltage V_(G1S) falls below the first threshold V_(TH1), which is shown at time t4 in FIG. 13. There may be a time delay between the time t4 when the first drive voltage V_(G1S) falls below the first threshold V_(TH1) and the time when the drain-source voltage V_(DS) reaches its maximum. However, such time delay is not shown in FIG. 13. At a later time t5 the first drive voltage V_(G1S) reaches the first off-level V_(OFF1). In the example shown in FIG. 13, the first drive voltage V_(G1S) decreases substantially linearly. This, however, is only an example. According to another example shown in FIG. 15, the first drive voltage V_(G1S) decreases non-linearly. In particular, the first drive voltage V_(G1S) may decrease slower as the first drive voltage V_(G1S) approaches the first off-level V_(OFF1). According to another example shown in FIG. 16, the first drive voltage V_(G1S) decreases in two timely subsequent non-linear sections.

Interrupting the second conducting channel includes decreasing the second drive voltage V_(G2S) from the second on-level V_(ON2) to the second off-level V_(OFF2). In the example shown in FIG. 13, the decrease begins at time t5, which is when the first drive voltage V_(G1S) reaches the first off-level V_(OFF1). According to another example, shown in FIG. 14, there is a delay time Δt5 between the time t5 when the first drive voltage V_(G1S) reaches the first off-level V_(OFF1) and the time when the second drive voltage V_(G2S) starts to decrease.

It should be noted that although switching off the transistor device as explained with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 includes interrupting both the first conducting channel and the second conducting channel, the transistor device is already off (non-conducting) at time t4 when the first conducting channel is interrupted. Like in the switching-on procedure explained before, the rate at which the drain-source voltage V_(DS) changes its voltage level is controlled by the rate at which the first drive voltage V_(G1S) changes its voltage level. Changing the first drive voltage V_(G1S), that is, discharging the first gate electrode 21, is not associated with discharging/charging significant parasitic capacitances so that there is at most a weak Miller effect involved in switching off the transistor device.

FIG. 17 shows one example of a second driver stage 5 ₂ configured to switch off the transistor device. This second driver stage 5 ₂ includes a first driver 51 ₂ configured to drive the first gate node G1, and a second driver 52 ₂ configured to drive the second gate node G2. In this example, the second driver 52 ₂ includes a switch 521 ₂ connected between the second gate node G2 and a supply node where a voltage having the second off-level V_(OFF2) is available. The first driver 51 ₂ includes a series circuit with a switch 511 ₂ and a current source 512 ₂, wherein the series circuit with the switch 511 ₂ and the current source 512 ₂ is connected between the first gate node G1 and a supply node where a supply voltage having the first off-level V_(OFF1) is available. According to one example, the first off-level V_(OFF1) is zero. In this case, the supply node equals the source node S. This is illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 17.

The first driver 51 ₂ and the second driver 52 ₂ can be optimized for different purposes. According to one example, the second driver 52 ₂ is optimized to rapidly discharge the second gate electrode 31 via the second gate node G2. For this, the second driver 52 ₂ may be configured to draw a high current from the second gate node G2. The first driver 51 ₂ may be configured to discharge the first gate electrode 21 via the first gate node G1 in a predefined fashion. For this, as shown in FIG. 17, the first driver 51 ₂ may draw a drive current with a predefined current level from the first gate node G1. According to one example, this current level is lower than a current level of a maximum drive current drawn by the second driver 52 ₂. According to one example the currents provided by the first and second drivers 51 ₂, 52 ₂ become zero when the respective drive voltage V_(G1S), V_(G2S) reaches a predefined voltage level. This is illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 in that the drive voltages V_(G1S), V_(G2S) do not further decrease when they reach the first off-level V_(OFF1) and the second off-level V_(OFF2), respectively.

The second driver stage 5 ₂ shown in FIG. 17 is configured to switch off the transistor device in accordance with the timing diagrams shown in FIG. 13 or FIG. 14. When the input signal S_(IN) indicates that it is desired to switch off the transistor device, a control circuit 53 ₂ switches on the switch 511 ₂ in the first driver 51 ₂ in order to decrease the first drive voltage V_(G1S) to the first off-level V_(OFF1). In the first driver 51 ₂ shown in FIG. 17 the current source 512 ₂ causes the first gate electrode 21 to be discharged so that the first drive voltage V_(G1S) decreases substantially linearly. After the first conducting channel has been interrupted, the control circuit 53 ₂ switches on the switch 521 ₂ in the second driver 52 ₂ in order to decrease the second drive voltage V_(G2S) to the second off-level V_(OFF2). The control circuit 53 ₂ can be configured to close the switch 521 ₂ when the first drive voltage V_(G1S) has reached the first off-level V_(OFF1). In this case, the transistor device switches off in accordance with the timing diagrams shown in FIG. 13. The control circuit 53 ₂ could also be configured to close the switch 521 ₂ after a delay time Δt5. In this case, the transistor device switches off in accordance with the timing diagrams shown in FIG. 14. In both examples, the control circuit 53 ₂ can be configured to detect a voltage level of the first drive voltage V_(G1S) and start discharging the second gate electrode 31 upon detecting or after a certain delay time Δt5 after detecting that the first drive voltage V_(G1S) has reached a predefined threshold, such as the first off-level V_(OFF1).

According to another example, the control circuit 53 ₂ discharges the first and second gate electrodes 21, 31, that is, drives the switches 511 ₂, 521 ₂, in accordance with a predefined time scheme. For example, the drive circuit 53 ₂ starts to discharge the first gate electrode 21 by closing switch 511 ₂ at one time and starts to discharge the second gate electrode 31 by closing switch 521 ₂ a fixed time period afterwards. This time period is selected such that the second channel has been interrupted at the time at which discharging the first electrode 21 starts.

FIG. 18 shows another example of the second driver stage 5 ₂. This second driver stage 5 ₂ is based on the second driver stage 5 ₂ shown in FIG. 17 and is different from the second driver stage 5 ₂ shown in FIG. 17 in that the first driver 51 ₂ includes a resistor 513 ₂ instead of the current source 512 ₂. Using this second driver stage 5 ₂ a decrease of the first drive voltage G1 _(S) as shown in FIG. 15 can be obtained.

FIG. 19 shows another example of the second driver stage 5 ₂. This second driver stage 5 ₂ is based on the second driver stage 5 ₂ shown in FIG. 17 and is different from the second driver stage 5 ₂ shown in FIG. 17 in that the first driver 51 ₂ includes two series circuits each including a respective switch 513 ₂, 514 ₂ and a respective resistor 515 ₂, 516 ₂. Both switches 513 ₂, 514 ₂ are controlled by the control circuit 53 ₂. A first series circuit with the switch 513 ₂ and the resistor 515 ₂ is connected between the first gate node G1 and a supply node where an intermediate voltage V_(INT) is available. The level of this intermediate voltage V_(INT) is between the first on-level V_(ON1) and the first off-level V_(OFF1). A second series circuit with the switch 514 ₂ and the resistor 516 ₂ is connected between the first gate node G1 and the supply node where a voltage with the first off-level V_(OFF1) is available. In this second driver stage 5 ₂, the control circuit 53 ₂ is configured to switch on the switch 513 ₂ in the first series circuit when the input signal S_(IN) indicates that is desired to switch off the transistor device. By this, the first drive voltage V_(G1S) decreases to the intermediate level V_(INT). The control circuit 53 ₂ then switches off the switch 513 ₂ and switches on the switch 514 ₂ in the second series circuit. By this, the voltage level of the first drive voltage V_(G1S) decreases to the first off-level V_(OFF1). This is in accordance with the timing diagram shown in FIG. 16.

According to another example (not shown), the first driver 51 ₂ includes a first current source instead of the resistor 515 ₂ in the first series circuit and a second current source instead of the resistor 516 ₂ in the second series circuit. In this case, the first drive voltage V_(G1S) decreases substantially linearly between the first on-level V_(ON1) and the intermediate level V_(INT) and between the intermediate level V_(INT) and the first off-level V_(OFF1).

According to another example (not shown), the first driver 51 ₂ includes a circuit configured to provide two different current levels. For example, this circuit may include two current sources or an adjustable current source). By suitably timing when these current sources are activated and deactivated the first gate electrode 21 can be discharged in a predefined fashion.

In the examples explained above, the second driver 52 ₁, 52 ₂ in the first driver 5 ₁ and the second driver stage 5 ₂, respectively, is drawn to merely include a switch 521 ₁, 521 ₂ connected to the second gate node G2. This, however, is only an example. The second driver 52 ₁, 52 ₂ may additionally include a current source and/or a resistor. Nevertheless, the second driver 52 ₁, 52 ₂ is designed such that it charges/discharges the second gate electrode 31 faster than the respective first driver 51 ₁, 51 ₂ charges/discharges the first gate electrode 21. For example, “faster” means that a maximum absolute value of a time derivative dV_(G1S)/dt of the first drive voltage V_(G1S) in the charging/discharging process is lower than a maximum absolute value of a time derivative dV_(G2S)/dt of the second drive voltage V_(G2S) in the charging/discharging process. According to another example, “faster” means that an average charging/discharging current of the first gate electrode 21 is lower than an average charging/discharging current of the second gate electrode 31.

FIG. 20 shows a drive circuit 5 according to another example. This drive circuit includes a detection circuit 6 besides the first driver stage 5 ₁ and the second driver stage 5 ₂. The first driver stage 5 ₁ and the second driver stage 5 ₂ can be implemented in accordance with one of the examples explained before. The detection circuit 6 is connected to the second gate node G2 and is configured to detect a time when the first conducting channel has been generated or has been interrupted. That is, the detection circuit 6 is configured to detect when the first drive voltage V_(G1S) rises above the first threshold V_(TH1) or falls below the first threshold V_(TH1). According to one example, the detection circuit 6 outputs a status signal S_(STATUS) that indicates when the first conducting channel has been generated or has been interrupted. For example, when the transistor device switches off and the detection circuit 6 detects that the first conducting channel has been interrupted, the control circuit 53 ₂ in the second driver stage 5 ₂ based on the status signal S_(STATUS) may control the second driver 52 ₂ to interrupt the second conducting channel as soon as the status signal S_(STATUS) indicates that the first conducting channel has been interrupted.

FIG. 21 shows one example of the detection circuit 6 configured to detect when the first conducting channel has been generated after the second conducting channel has been generated. This detection circuit 6 can be activated and deactivated by a control circuit 7. The control circuit 7 receives the input signal S_(IN) and is further configured to activate or deactivate the second driver 52 ₁ in the first driver stage 5 ₁. Deactivating the second driver 52 ₁ may include disconnecting the second gate node G2 from the supply node. This is explained with reference to FIG. 22 below.

FIG. 22 shows timing diagrams of the input signal S_(IN), a drive signal S521 ₁ of the switch 521 ₁ (see, e.g., FIGS. 10-12) in the second driver 52 ₁, the second drive voltage V_(GS2) and an enable signal S62 (which may also be referred to as activation signal) of the detection circuit 6. The drive signal S521 ₁ activates or deactivates the second driver 52 ₁, whereas the second driver 52 ₁ is active when the drive signal S521 ₁ switches on the switch 521 ₁ and inactive when the drive signal S521 ₁ switches off the switch 521 ₁. Just for the purpose of illustration a signal level of the drive signal S521 ₁ that activates the second driver 52 ₁ is drawn as a high level in FIG. 22. Equivalently, the enable signal S62 enables or disables (activates or deactivates) the detection circuit. Just for the purpose of illustration a signal level of the enable signal S62 that activates the detection circuit is drawn as a high level in FIG. 22. The second driver 51 ₂ in the first driver stage is activated/deactivated based on a first control signal S7 ₁ provided by the control circuit 7 to the first driver stage 5 ₁.

Referring to the signal diagrams shown in FIG. 22, the control circuit 7 is configured to activate the second driver 52 ₁ in the first driver stage 5 ₁ for an activation period T521 when the input signal S_(IN) by changing from the off-level to the on-level indicates that it is desired to switch on the transistor device. According to one example, a duration of the time period T521 is selected long enough for the second drive signal V_(G2S) to reach the second on-level V_(ON2), that is, long enough for the second conducting channel to be generated, and short enough that the transistor device is still in the off-state at the end of this time period T521 (that is, for the first conducting channel to be interrupted). After the activation period, the control circuit 7 deactivates the second driver 52 ₁ in the first driver stage 5 ₁ and activates the detection circuit 6.

Referring to FIG. 21, the detection circuit 6 may include a voltage regulator 61 configured to regulate the second drive voltage V_(G2S) such that it remains on the second on-level V_(ON2). For this, the voltage regulator receives the second drive voltage V_(G2S) (or a signal indicating the second drive voltage V_(G2S)) and a voltage that has the second on-level V_(ON2). The detection circuit 6 can be activated/deactivated by the enable signal S62. Activating/deactivating the detection circuit 6 may include closing/opening a switch 62 coupled between an output of the voltage regulator 61 and the second gate node G2 and driven by the enable signal S62. It should be noted, however, that providing a switch between the output of the voltage regulator 61 and the second gate node is only one of several possible means to activate/deactivate the voltage regulator 62 by the enable signal S62; other means may be used as well.

Furthermore a current measurement and filter circuit 63 is connected between the voltage regulator and the second gate node G2. The current measurement and filter circuit 63 is configured to measure a current flowing between the voltage regulator 61 and the second gate node G2 to generate a current measurement signal and to filter this current measurement signal. An output signal S63 of the current measurement and filter circuit 63 represents the filtered current measurement signal. For example, filtering the current measurement signal includes integrating the current measurement signal or differentiating the current measurement signal. By integrating the current measurement signal a change of an electrical charge stored in the second gate electrode 31 can be monitored, and by differentiating the current measurement signal a rapid increase or decrease of a current flowing to or from the second gate electrode 31 can be monitored. However, integrating or differentiating are only two examples of how the current measurement signal can be filtered, other filter methods can be used as well.

According to one example, the current measurement and filter circuit 63 receives the enable signal S62 and is reset after the enable signal S62 has disabled the detection circuit 6 and before the enable signal S62 again activates the detection circuit 6. By this, the output signal S63 of the current measurement and filter circuit 63 represents the current filtered in a time period that begins when the detection circuit 6 is enabled (activated). In this case, if filtering the current measurement includes integrating the current measurement signal, the output signal S63 represents an amount of electrical charge provided from the voltage regulator 61 to the second gate node G2 (or received by the voltage regulator 61 from the second gate node G2) in a time period after the detection circuit 6 has been enabled, that is, after the second gate electrode has already been charged to the on-level V_(ON2) by the second driver 52 ₁ in the first driver stage 5 ₁.

An evaluation circuit 64 receives the output signal S63 of the current measurement and filter circuit 63 and generates the status signal S_(STATUS) based on the output signal. According to one example, the evaluation circuit 64 generates the status signal based on comparing the output signal S63 with a threshold. According to one example, the evaluation circuit 64 generates a signal level of the status signal S_(STATUS) indicating that the first conducting channel has been generated when the output signal S63 (representing the filtered current measurement signal) reaches a predefined threshold.

Why measuring the current provided by the voltage regulator to the second gate electrode is suitable to detect whether the first conducting channel has been generated is explained below with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23. FIG. 23 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of a double gate transistor device. This equivalent circuit diagram shows parasitic capacitances of the double gate transistor device and how they are connected. Referring to FIG. 23, the double gate transistor device includes a first capacitance C_(G1S) between the first gate node G1 and the source node S1, a second capacitance C_(G1G2) between the first gate node G1 and the second gate node G2, a third capacitance C_(G2D) between the second gate node G2 and the drain node D, and a fourth capacitance between the drain node D and the source node S. In the following, the first capacitance C_(G1S) is also referred to as gate-source capacitance, the second capacitance C_(G1G2) is also referred to as gate-gate capacitance, the third capacitance C_(G2D) is also referred to as gate-drain capacitance, and the fourth capacitance C_(DS) is also referred to as drain-source capacitance.

The following explanation starts at the end of the time period T521. Referring to the above, at the end of this time period the second drive voltage V_(G2S) has reached the second on-level V_(ON2), the transistor device is still in the off-state (that is, the first drive voltage V_(G1S) is below the first threshold voltage V_(TH1)), and the detection circuit 6 is enabled. A voltage across the drain-source capacitance C_(DS) may correspond to the supply voltage V+ (see, FIG. 5) at the end of the time period T521. When the first drive voltage V_(G1S) reaches the first threshold voltage V_(TH1) the transistor device starts to conduct. At this time, the drain source capacitance C_(DS) starts to be discharged; the electrical potential at the drain node D starts to decrease when a current through the transistor has reached its maximum current level. The drain node D is capacitively coupled to the second gate node G2 via the gate-drain capacitance C_(G2D) so that a decreasing potential at the drain node D would decrease the electrical potential at the second gate node G2 unless this electrical potential at the second gate node G2 is tied to a fixed potential (such as in the examples shown in FIGS. 10-12, where the second gate node G2 is tied to V_(ON2)) or regulated. In the detection circuit 6 shown in FIG. 21, after the time period T521, the voltage regulator 61 regulates the electrical potential at the second gate node G2 such that the drive voltage V_(G2S) substantially remains at V_(ON2). This regulation requires discharging the gate-drain capacitance C_(G2D) after the transistor device switches on, whereas discharging the gate-drain capacitance C_(G2D) requires the voltage regulator 61 to drive a current I6 into the second gate node G2.

This is illustrated in FIG. 24, where signal diagrams of the input signal S_(IN), the second drive voltage V_(GS2), the first drive signal V_(GS1), the current I6 from the voltage regulator to the second gate node G2, the measurement and filter signal S63, and the status signal S_(STATUS) are shown. For the purpose of explanation it is assumed that the current I6 starts to flow when the first drive voltage V_(GS1) reaches the first threshold V_(TH1). The current measurement and filter circuit 63 measures the current I6 to generate a current measurement signal and filter this current measurement signal.

According to one example, filtering the current measurement signal includes integrating the current measurement signal, so that the output signal S63 represents a change of the charging state of the gate drain capacitance C_(G2D). According to one example, the measurement and filter signal 63 is proportional to an integral of the current I6. It can be assumed that the transistor device has changed its operation state when a certain amount of charge has been provided to the second gate electrode 32, that is, when the measurement and filter signal S63 has reached a predefined threshold S63 _(TH) so that the evaluation circuit 64 changes a signal level of the status signal S_(STATUS) (asserts the status signal S_(STATUS)) to indicate that the transistor device has switched on when the measurement and filter signal S63 has reached the predefined threshold S63 _(TH).

According to one example, the detection circuit 6 is not only configured to detect when the transistor device switches from the off-state to the on-state (when the first conducting channel has been generated after the second conducting channel has been generated), but may also detect when the transistor device switches from the on-state to the off-state (when the first conducting channel has been interrupted before the second conducting channel is interrupted). Referring to the above, when the device switches on, the second gate electrode 32 changes its charging state when the first conducting channel is generated. This change of the charging state is associated with a charging current that can be monitored by the measurement and filter circuit. When the transistor device switches off by first interrupting the first conducting channel and then interrupting the second conducting channel, as explained with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, the change of the charging state of the second gate electrode is reversed. That is, a current flows from the second gate electrode 32 and the second gate node G2, respectively, to the voltage regulator and can be measured by the measurement and filter circuit 63. According to one example, the detection circuit 6 stays activated throughout the on-state of the transistor device and the evaluation circuit 64 sets the status signal S_(STATUS) to a signal level indicating that the first conducting channel has been interrupted when the output signal S63 of the measurement and filter circuit falls below the predefined threshold. This is illustrated in FIG. 25 where signal diagrams of the same signals as in FIG. 24 are shown during switching off.

According to another example (not shown), the measurement and filter circuit 63 is reset after the status signal S_(STATUS) has indicated that the transistor device has been switched on so that the measurement and filter signal S63 becomes zero. In this case, the measurement and filter signal S63 is compared with a second threshold during turn-off, and the status signal S_(STATUS) is set back to the signal level indicating that the transistor device has been switched off when the measurement and filter signal 63 falls below the second threshold.

According to one example, the first gate electrode 21 is driven based on the status signal. For this, at least one of the first driver stage 5 ₁ and the second driver stage 5 ₂ receives the status signal S_(STATUS). According to one example, a time scheme of driving the first gate electrode 21 is dependent on the status signal S_(STATUS). For example, if the first gate electrode 21 is driven in accordance with the drive scheme shown in FIG. 9 where the drive current changes from a first current level (defined by current source 515 ₁ shown in FIG. 12) to a second current level (defined by current source 516 ₁ shown in FIG. 12) the time of changing the current level can be dependent on the status signal. That is, the first gate electrode 21 may be driven (charged) based on the first current level until the status signal S_(STATUS) indicates that the first conducting channel has been generated, and based on the second current level afterwards. Equivalently, when the transistor device switches off the first gate electrode may be driven (discharged) based on a first current level until the status signal S_(STATUS) indicates that the first conducting channel has been interrupted, and based on a second current level afterwards. It should be noted that the first current level when driving the first gate electrode 21 to generate the first conducting channel can be different from the first current level when driving the first gate electrode 21 to interrupt the first conducting channel, and the second current level when driving the first gate electrode 21 to generate the first conducting channel can be different from the second current level when driving the first gate electrode 21 to interrupt the first conducting channel. In general, the first gate electrode can be driven based on a first drive parameter until the status signal S_(STATUS) indicates that an operation state of the transistor device has changed, and based on a second drive parameter afterwards.

The operation state of the transistor device changes each time the first conducting channel is either generated or interrupted. In the example explained above, the first drive parameter is a first current level of the drive current, and a second drive parameter is a second current level of the drive current. However, the first and second drive parameters are not restricted to be current levels. According to another example, the first and second drive parameters include a resistance coupled to the first gate node G1, so that a first resistance can be connected between the first gate node G1 and a supply node until the status signal S_(STATUS) indicates that the operation status has changed and a second resistance can be connected between the first gate node G1 and a supply node after the status signal S_(STATUS) has indicated indicates that the operation status has changed. According to yet another example, the supply potential applied to the first gate electrode G1 may change based on the status signal S_(STATUS). The first and second drive parameters could even be combinations of the above. For example, a first supply potential may be applied to the first gate node G1 via a first resistor (such as V_(INT) via resistor 515 ₂ in the first drive circuit 51 ₂ shown in FIG. 19), and first second potential may be applied to the first gate node G1 via a second resistor (such as V_(OFF1) via resistor 516 ₂ in the first drive circuit 51 ₂ shown in FIG. 19).

According to another example, the detection circuit 6 is used to diagnose the transistor device before it is switched on. Referring to the above, the first gate electrode 21 and the second gate electrode 31 are capacitively coupled. Thus, if the transistor device has been properly connected in an application circuit, such as an application circuit illustrated in FIG. 5, and the transistor device is faultless changing the electrical potential at the first gate node G1 is supposed to either change the electrical potential at the second gate node G2 or cause a capacitive displacement current to flow from or into the second gate node. The electrical potential of the second gate node G2 changes if the second gate node G2 is floating during the diagnosis, that is, not clamped to a fixed potential. A capacitive displacement current flows if the electrical potential at the second node is clamped to a fixed potential, such as the second off-level, during the diagnosis. Thus, diagnosing the device may include changing the electrical potential at the first gate node G1, for example, from the first off-level V_(OFF1) to the first on-level V_(ON1) and monitoring the second gate node G2. According to one example, the transistor device is considered to be faultless and properly connected if the electrical potential at the second gate node G2 changes or a capacitive displacement current is detected. Additionally or alternatively, diagnosing the transistor device may include changing the electrical potential at the second gate node G2 and monitoring the first gate node G1.

During the diagnosis the transistor device is in the off-state so that potential faults can be detected before the transistor device is switched on for the first time.

Although various exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made which will achieve some of the advantages of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It will be obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art that other components performing the same functions may be suitably substituted. It should be mentioned that features explained with reference to a specific figure may be combined with features of other figures, even in those cases in which this has not explicitly been mentioned. Further, the methods of the invention may be achieved in either all software implementations, using the appropriate processor instructions, or in hybrid implementations that utilize a combination of hardware logic and software logic to achieve the same results. Such modifications to the inventive concept are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Spatially relative terms such as “under,” “below,” “lower,” “over,” “upper” and the like, are used for ease of description to explain the positioning of one element relative to a second element. These terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to different orientations than those depicted in the figures. Further, terms such as “first,” “second” and the like, are also used to describe various elements, regions, sections, etc. and are also not intended to be limiting. Like terms refer to like elements throughout the description.

As used herein, the terms “having,” “containing,” “including,” “comprising” and the like are open ended terms that indicate the presence of stated elements or features, but do not preclude additional elements or features. The articles “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural as well as the singular, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

With the above range of variations and applications in mind, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited by the foregoing description, nor is it limited by the accompanying drawings. Instead, the present invention is limited only by the following claims and their legal equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: switching on a transistor device by generating a first conducting channel in a body region by driving a first gate electrode and, before generating the first conducting channel, generating a second conducting channel in the body region by driving a second gate electrode, wherein the first gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a first gate dielectric, wherein the second gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a second gate dielectric, arranged adjacent the first gate electrode, and separated from the first gate electrode by a separation layer, wherein the body region is arranged between a source region and a drift region, and wherein the drift region is arranged between the body region and a drain region, wherein driving the first gate electrode comprises increasing a first drive voltage between the first gate electrode and the source region from a first off-level to a first on-level, wherein driving the second gate electrode comprises increasing a second drive voltage between the second gate electrode and the source region from a second off-level to a second on-level, and wherein the second off-level is different from the first off-level.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein driving the first gate electrode comprises clamping the second gate electrode to the second on-level.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein driving the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode comprises increasing the second drive voltage faster than the first drive voltage.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: detecting a change in an operation state of the transistor device, wherein detecting the operation state comprises monitoring at least one electrical parameter of the second gate electrode.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein monitoring the at least one electrical parameter of the second gate electrode comprises monitoring at least one of an electrical potential and a current to or from the second gate electrode.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein monitoring the at least one electrical parameter comprises: filtering a signal representing the current to or from the second gate electrode to generate a filter signal; and comparing the filter signal with a threshold.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein detecting the change of the operation state comprises detecting the change in the operation state if the filter signal reaches the threshold.
 8. The method of claim 4, wherein driving the first gate electrode further comprises driving the first gate electrode based on a detected change of the operation state.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein driving the first gate electrode based on the detected change of the operation state comprises: driving the first gate electrode in accordance with a first drive parameter before the change of the operation state has been detected; and driving the first gate electrode in accordance with a second drive parameter different from the first drive parameter after the change of the operation state has been detected.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first drive parameter comprises a first current level of a drive current into the first gate electrode and the second drive parameter comprises a second current level of the drive current higher than the first current level.
 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising switching off the transistor device by interrupting the first conducting channel in the body region by driving the first gate electrode to a first off voltage, and, after interrupting the first conducting channel, interrupting the second conducting channel in the body region by driving the second gate electrode to a second off voltage.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second gate electrode is positioned closer to the drift region of the transistor device than the first gate electrode.
 13. A method, comprising: driving a first gate electrode of a transistor device and monitoring at least one electrical parameter of a second gate electrode of the transistor device, wherein the first gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from a body region by a first gate dielectric, wherein the second gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a second gate dielectric, arranged adjacent the first gate electrode, and separated from the first gate electrode by a separation layer, wherein the body region is arranged between a source region and a drift region, and wherein the drift region is arranged between the body region and a drain region, and wherein monitoring the at least one electrical parameter of the second gate electrode comprises measuring a current flowing to the second gate electrode, wherein driving the first gate electrode comprises increasing a first drive voltage between the first gate electrode and the source region from a first off-level to a first on-level, wherein driving the second gate electrode comprises increasing a second drive voltage between the second gate electrode and the source region from a second off-level to a second on-level, and wherein the second off-level is different from the first off-level.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising driving the second gate electrode of the transistor device at the same time as driving the first gate electrode.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein driving the first gate electrode comprises increasing a voltage of the first gate electrode according to a first slope, and driving the second gate electrode comprises increasing a voltage of the second gate electrode according to a second slope faster than the first slope.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining when the transistor device turns on based on measuring the current.
 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising filtering the measured second current prior to determining when the transistor device turns on.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein filtering the measured current comprises integrated the measured current to determine a change of electrical charge stored in the second gate electrode.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein filtering the measured current comprises differentiating the measured current to determine a rapid increase or decrease of a current flowing to or from the second gate electrode.
 20. A method comprising: switching on a transistor device by generating a first conducting channel in a body region by driving a first gate electrode and, before generating the first conducting channel, generating a second conducting channel in the body region by driving a second gate electrode, wherein the first gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a first gate dielectric, wherein the second gate electrode is dielectrically insulated from the body region by a second gate dielectric, arranged adjacent the first gate electrode, and separated from the first gate electrode by a separation layer, wherein the body region is arranged between a source region and a drift region, and wherein the drift region is arranged between the body region and a drain region, wherein driving the first gate electrode comprises increasing a first drive voltage between the first gate electrode and the source region from a first off-level to a first on-level according to a first slope, and wherein driving the second gate electrode comprises increasing a second drive voltage between the second gate electrode and the source region from a second off-level to a second on-level according to a second slope, wherein the second slope is greater than the first slope, and wherein the second off-level is different from the first off-level. 